We really do have to give Glock credit for one of the slickest marketing jobs in American history.
These functional, plastic pistols were talked about in hushed tones back in the 90s. Will Smith branded a pair in Bad Boys 2, Johnny Utah rocked a Glock an pretty much every hero, cop, special agent and arch enemy would pull out the familiar, blocky Austrian pistol in the 90s and the new Millennium.
As far as Hollywood was concerned, there was only one gun. And that whole mystique was built around the frankly ludicrous idea that Glocks were ceramic and could glide straight through metal detectors.
Remember that little doozy? It started from somewhere and I’m giving Glock all the credit for a concerted whisper campaign, product placement assault and even sponsorship, long before they became the norm in Hollywood.
The narrative was Glock was special, and that has become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
This blocky, straightforward, striker fired Polymer pistol has become the default firearm. It is a dominant force and almost every household has one.
The Glock 17, 19 and 34 are great guns for sale, but they’re certainly not the benchmark for this generation of striker-fired plastic fantastics.
Glocks: The Toyota Camry of the Gun World
I have seen Glocks described as the Toyota Camry of the firearms world and I think it’s a fair call. It’s massively reliable, but it won’t set your pulse racing.
The famous Glock grip angle means you have to adapt to the gun, too, and a Glock is rarely a gun that just feels like an extension of your hand. The grip angle is actually a major dealbreaker for me, and led me to one of many Glock alternatives. I guess I’m just not a Glock fanboy.
It also needs a new trigger, stippling and slide work if you want a perfect handgun. Agency Arms and ZEV technologies have turned custom Glocks into an art form, but a Glock is really a starting point for a DIY project, rather than a complete gun in its own right.
Why? We wish we knew…
So what are the Glock alternatives for sale in 2018?
Here are our picks:
1. Sig Sauer P320 Compact
- Price: $499.99
- Capacity: 17+1
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Length (Inches): 7.2
- Weight: 1.6lb
- Caliber: 9mm/40S&W/45 ACP/357 SIG
The Sig Sauer P320 Compact is basically one gun that could take care of everything. It could be your EDC, home protection and the replacement for your Glock 19.
It fits the same profile, it’s a better gun in just about every respect, the grip angle feels more natural and it’s just a wonderful looking thing. So, this could be the Glock 19 alternative you’ve been looking for.
If I had to give up every gun except one right now, I’d keep this one. I think it’s the best striker fired handgun on the market right now. It might just be the best 9mm handgun in the world.
You can use it for concealed carry, it’s accurate enough that it’s a perfectly viable home defense gun and it can go with you everywhere.
It’s a service pistol designed for the military and then given to the people.
You get 15+1 rounds in a compact chassis and the gun measures 7.2 inches in total. It’s a modular design, too, so you can easily switch calibers and go for something heavier for personal defence. But the Caliber X-Change Kit really doesn’t make much sense for the consumer.
It’s a neat military touch, but if you really want two different calibers, get a second gun for basically the same money. There’s always a deal on somewhere and right now there’s a P320 Compact 9mm for $526.99
The P320 comes with a rail for a laser or a light, you get serrations right up the slide and it’s an elegant firearm. It’s the right size to just about use it as an EDC and it’s really all the gun you will ever need.
The company won the contact to supply the army with P320 sidearms, well M17 and M18 to give them their military designation. Now the Navy and Air Force want them too, they’re that good. The street Compact version is just about the most complete handgun on the open market.
If you haven’t tried it, you’ll be amazed at the trigger set that comes as standard and that this is a gun you just take to the range and start shooting. It’s better than the Glock, then, and at this price point its easily one of the best 9mm handguns for sale in 2018.
It really is one gun that can do it all, and this is the best Glock 19 alternative we can offer you right now.
Where to buy Cheap Sig Sauer handguns
There’s a serious list of options when it comes to Sig Sauers, including the epic 1911s and the company also makes some of the best concealed carry guns, so it’s down to you what you’re looking for and we’ll just try and save you money by finding the cheapest deals for guns online.
I have made it easy for you, these links take you through to the latest deals on two of my best sources for cheap guns online.
You will beat Glock prices all day long and find the handgun that might just be the best in the world right now.
Where to find the best deals on Sig Sauer handguns
2. S&W M&P 2.0 Compact 9mm
- Price: $464.99
- Capacity: 15+1 Rounds
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Total Length (inches): 7.3
- Weight: 750g
- Caliber: 9mm
Owner reviews generally put this Smith & Wesson well clear of the Glock 19, and it’s a cheaper weapon.
Those reviews include police officers, who now use the S&W M&P 2.0 as their duty pistol. It’s super reliable and the trigger is a quantum leap forward from the spongey Glock for a start. The ergonomics, too, are just better and the M&P 2.0 feels right in the hand compared to the awkward G19.
You get 15+1 rounds in the 9mm and a four-inch barrel on this striker-fired handgun. It is pretty much Glock 19-sized, but the M&P has a much better slide and the ergonomics just work.
The stippling is aggressive, too, and this is like a finished Glock 19 alternative without you lifting a finger.
It’s a better gun, in other words…
You can get this Desert spec weapon for $454.99, with a 5 inch barrel, which is a bargain if you don’t mind owning a beige gun.
Where to get cheap Smith & Wesson handguns.
You can get Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handguns in 9mm, 40S&W, 45 ACP and 380. So keep an eye out for the cheapest gun sales online here.
Discount Smith & Wesson Guns at Brownells.
3. FN 509
- Price: $579.99
- Capacity: 17+1 Rounds
- Length (Inches): 7.4
- Weight: 1.67lb
- Caliber: 9mm
The FN is absolutely Glock money, you won’t save anything here. But it’s an FN…
The Secret Service carry FN hardware into battle and I have a lifelong DEA man friend that still gets glassy eyed when he talks about FN rifles. They have been in business for more than 125 years and they have the heritage.
We do have to say that the company’s pistols have never commanded the same respect as its rifles and the company is basically coming back from a loss.
The FNS should just have worked, but you don’t need to search too hard to find a laundry list of issues on the web, including the ominous ‘dead trigger’ problem.
Reliability is everything when it comes to your EDC and it doesn’t matter how good the FN is as a handgun, it has to prove itself all over again as a solid and reliable handgun manufacturer.
It knows this, that’s why it claimed to have fired more than 1 million bullets downrange from the development FN 509.
FN Should Have Learned From the FNS
It’s effectively a total redesign of the FNS with a specific purpose in mind.
It was developed to challenge for the military contract that went to Sig Sauer in the end. So hopefully this one has been torture-tested to death and any issues have been dealt with.
When it missed out on the deal, though, FN was left with a cost-effective, military-grade or thereabouts striker-fired pistol that’s all dressed up with nowhere to go. The compact option is a viable concealed carry and if it doesn’t crap during extensive range testing, I might put this higher up the list. We’ll see….
It’s a more elegant gun than a Glock, the stippling is strong, the slide is infinitely better and this looks like a designer might even have been involved somewhere along the line.
You can rack the slide from either end, you can switch out the backstraps until it sits perfectly in your hand and then you should get the most of this supremely accurate handgun that pretty much leaves the Glock in its wake.
FN has its own narrative to challenge Glock, too. The FNS was a disappointment, but that still doesn’t stop FN being the Secret Service and military guys’ sidearm.
FN Five Seven is a Tactical Legend
Their FN Five Seven Tactical polymer pistol is in active service with more than 40 national military and law enforcement agencies. Right now, FN firearms are guarding the President, they’re deep undercover and they’re doing more demanding work than any reasonable homeowner will ask of them.
That still doesn’t mean it has Glock reliability. But it does mean it can carve out its own niche in the EDC sector.
The 509 is a great handgun and this money buys a you a 4 inch barrel and a 17+1 capacity, thanks to the 5-inch plus height that does make it a slightly larger gun than the Glock 19. It’s a better service pistol in almost every conceivable way than the Glock 19. Reliability is another thing, of course, but FN has a point to prove.
It will get this gun right and this looks like it will turn out to be FN’s most cost-effective and arguably its best best handgun to date. This is a designer label, brought to the masses, and it will be interesting to chart its progress.
Right now, I’m prepared to gamble on the FN name rather than buy a Glock and give up on life.
Where to get cheap FN handguns online
FN can sell you a seriously expensive Polymer handgun, a tactical 9mm and the legendary FN Five Seven.
Don’t buy the FNS, or any variation thereof. If you’re buying an FN, go with the 509 and pray they got it right this time. If they did, you’ll have an absolute peach of a gun and a great Glock alternative from one of America’s best gunbrokers.
Cheap prices on FN guns at Brownells
4. CZ P-10 Compact
- Price: $499.99
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4.02
- Total Length (Inches): 7.3
- Weight: 1.62lb
- Caliber: 9mm
This Eastern European special is getting a lot of love on the forums and the general feeling is that it’s a better gun than a Glock 19, for a chunk of change less money..
It’s the same old points. The slide is serrated properly, the trigger is sharp as a razor and the CZ P-10 is ready to hit the range straight out the box and start sending. It’s also smooth enough and snag free to be a concealed carry and all-round EDC.
There’s no pretense, it has everything you need for an EDC and absolutely nothing more. The grip is cleverly thought out so it sits better in your hand, the slide works well and CZ basically assumed you’ll be using the gun without any wild accessories. It’s a simple, honest gun, then , that does the basics right.
Sound familiar, Glock fans? So, yeah, basically it comes down your styling preference.
The CZ P-10 could fit in the Glock’s shadow, indeed it can share the same holsters. It’s 7.3 inches long, holds 15+1 rounds and just does everything right. You can get an extended clip that gives you 17+1, too.
A lot of cops and military are ditching their Glocks for this solid beast from the Czech Republic. It’s that good.
This is a weapon you should consider if you’re in the market for a Glock and in fact the owners say it blows the G19 away.
CZ is another military supplier in Europe, so you’d be surprised at the range of tactical firearms it has to offer. Check out the best prices for CZ handguns here.
Discount CZ Handguns. Tactical Handguns and CZ P-10 On Sale Now at Brownells.
5. H&K VP9
- Price: $630.99
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel Length(Inches) : 4.09
- Total Length (Inches): 7.34
- Weight: 1.45lb
- Caliber: 9mm
OK, the HK is actually more expensive than the Glock, but pretty much everyone that has one, loves it. It’s $100 more than the Glock for a complete pistol, with a slide that works, and a match grade barrel, and a great trigger.
Add the mods you have to make to the Glock and you’re saving money here, when you think about it.
This is the gun the Glock goes to bed at night and dreams of becoming. It has proper serrations on the slide, perfect balance and it just feels right in the hand.
It also looks great, so if you open carry your striker fired handgun then you might want to think about your personal branding. HK is like Porsche, or Nike, it shows you’re getting on in the world…
Security and military personnel around the world often go for the HK over a Glock and we kind of agree with them. So, if you’re in the market for a great polymer pistol and you just want the best handgun in the world, this right here might be it.
It is 1.68lb, it holds 15+1 rounds and it sits on the hip of men in far worse places than you and me for a reason. It’s just a badass gun and it’s better than the Glock. It just isn’t cheaper…
If money is no object, this is your Huckleberry.
You can occasionally find a discount on the HK VP9, and a lot of other very serious firearms from one of the best gun manufacturers in the world. Sign up on the site for all the deals, but also check here from time to time, I did the search for you…
The Best Deals on HK Handguns Online. Get a HK VP9 Cheap!
Great deals on HK handguns at Sportsman’s Warehouse
6. Walther PPQ M2
- Price: $562.10
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Total Length (Inches): 7.1
- Weight: 1.44lb
- Caliber: 9mm
Some people love Walther the same way I love HK and will put up a passionate case for the PPQ.
I understand it, this is a great firearm in its own right, but everything here is amazing in its own right.
You can get a range of compact handguns from Walther, but this is the full-size striker-fire pistol with a 5-inch barrel. Even with that epic barrel, the whole gun measures just 7.2 inches and that means you can just about stow it.
So if you want long distance accuracy in your CCW, for whatever reason, then you might want to try this handgun.
Ergonomically it’s one of the best, but it is expensive and you really have to choose between this and the HK. Still, it’s better than a Glock…
Brownells occasionally have some monster sales on Walther firearms too and we found a 40S&W version of this gun for $499.99 when we looked and a full Tactical 9mm for Glock money.
So keep an eye out for cheap guns online and sign up so we can let you know when we find them ourselves!
We found this Q5 match grade pistol for $829.99, which is a seriously tempting proposition.
7. Springfield Armory XDMOD.2
- Price: $389.87
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Total Length (Inches): 7.3
- Capacity: 16+1 Rounds
- Weight: 1.7lb
- Caliber: 9mm
If you like the clean lines of the Glock, but just want a little more detail and finishing touches, then the Springfield Armory XDMOD.2 has got you covered. That’s a clean gun for less than Glock money and you can get one here.
It’s like a G19 with some afterrmarket parts. They include a properly serrated slide and a sweet, perfect trigger that makes the Glock’s look like mush.
The grip safety is also a nice touch that’s missing on the G19. If you like that added layer of security then the Springfield Armory is really a gun you should look at. As for the ‘Grip Zone’, well if you need telling where to hold a gun then you probably should not own one…
You can get a smaller version of the XDMOD2, as well, which is our favorite CCW in the world in subcompact form. Both of them come with that grip safety and some owners swear it’s a lifesaver.
If you open carry, or concealed carry, then that additional grip safety means you don’t have to worry about that trigger safety getting pressed in. It’s enough to keep some people away from striker-fired pistols entirely, but this combination of safeties is a good option if that’s your priority.
Check out our 19 best CCW handguns in the world here.
Where to buy cheap Springfield Armory guns online.
Springfield Armory has a massive selection of handguns on sale, from 9mm subcompacts right through to 45 ACP weapons, and it’s got some of the sweetest 1911s on the open market, including the CCW options. It has every caliber and every size when it comes to plastic pistols, too. So keep an eye out here.
Springfield Armory Handguns On Sale. Get Cheap Prices at Brownells
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8. Canik TP9SFX
- Price: $450.95
- Capacity: 18+1
- Barrel Length (Inches): 5.2
- Total Length (Inches): 7.5
- Weight: 1.8lb
- Caliber: 9mm
The Canik TP9SA is a great handgun in its own right, but that price is just insane.
Get one of these Turkish guns, yeah I know, but bear with me. See if you actually want to pick up your Glock again. In terms of bang for buck, the Canik simply destroys the Glock 19.
It’s more than that, this is actually a better all-round pistol.
It feels better in the hand, you get 18+1 rounds with the 9mm and the slide is easy to grab from just about everywhere. The 4.49 inch barrel is a nice compromise between accuracy and concealability. So, yes, the TP9SA is a great CCW, truck gun, nightstand pistol and more.
The trigger is as good as any on the market. Indeed, devoted owners reckon that it’s a match for aftermarket Glock triggers. It’s accurate, lightweight and was designed for law enforcement officers.
The only thing that stops this gun running away with the prize is the doubts about spare parts from this Century Arms import from Turkey. They’ll fix that, I’m sure, because this gun is worth backing to the hilt.
Do you just want a pistol that does the job for the right price? Then this is the one, hands down. It’s not just a great gun at this price, it’s a great gun period.
This video is actually the SFX, a match grade version of the TP9 that basically looks like a custom Glock in its own special way. I did a piece on this competition ready pistol already and I think it’s awesome.
9. Ruger American Compact
- Price: $469.99
- Capacity: 17+1
- Barrel Length (Inches): 4
- Total Length (inches): 7.24
- Weight: 1.48lb
- Caliber: 9mm
You get 17+1 rounds, a 4-inch barrel and elegant stippling that has a lot in common with the new Mossberg. It does everything right.
With Ruger, you either instinctively think of the bargain bucket Ruger Security 9 or the altogether more impressive Ruger SR9. But we think the Ruger American is set to take over as the signature pistol and the one that we think of first.
This is an 18-round weapon that leaves the Glock behind in almost every conceivable way. It looks like a Glock 19 with ALL the parts & accessories. It isn’t the cleanest design and that can come with a price in terms of ease of concealment and actual operation. Ruger claims the ridges and edges all serve a purpose, though,
The Ruger SR9 is also a serious weapon that can look a Glock 19 square in the eye. In fact, if you’re on a budget, make sure you check out the Ruger SR9 for sale. it’s a good option and an underappreciated gun.
So make sure you check out the Ruger handguns on sale at any given time, because you might turn up a surprise or four…
The grip is unique. It might not actually be the best solution, but those overlapping geometric palmswells offer a greater level of customization and also look the nuts.
Ruger Handguns on Sale Right Now, Buy Cheap Handguns at Brownells
While I must agree with most of the author’s selections (the exceptions being the Ruger Security 9 and Canik TP9SA are inexpensive but offer few other attributes, and the PX4 Storm is just an over-priced hot mess) I have to take exception with the ranking order. I have shot all of the firearms on the list and the Walther PPQ deserves to be at the head of the list. I admit the Sig P320 is a close second, the PPQ is heads and shoulders above the rest. With a trigger rivaled by none, the best ergonomics by far, and the fact that the PPQ is offered in multiple calibers (.22, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP), as well multiple configurations (Sub-Compact 3.5″, 4″, and full sized 5″ barrels, as well as tactical and the Q5 Match pistol), the PPQ leaves the other offerings in the dust.
HI, thanks for your input and yes I mentioned that some people love Walthers as much as other people love HKs and I absolutely can see your perspective!
The Security 9 is just a cheap nightstand pistol, but it’s very good at that one particular job for the money. Same with the Canik, a basic gun for basic money. The Beretta, I included them out of sympathy I think. I couldn’t include their plastic fantastic, it’s horrible, so the PX4 at least looks OK. I think Beretta is a mess right now generally, though, and might just take it off completely.
It’s funny, though, some people will tell you the Springfield Armory has the best trigger set. Other will tell you it’s the CZ. A lot of it comes down to personal feel, as we all know 🙂
Very true!
Who needs 9mm anyway? It’s heavier, it has greater recoil and it’s less accurate than smaller calibers.
Frankly I cannot think of any situation which requires the use of a handgun, which would not be resolved by a smaller caliber gun, and with less disastrous consequences.
You can certainly make the case, but 9mm seems to be the sweet spot for me in terms of capacity, impact, grouping and simple tech. It has become the standard, so you’ve got more people developing firearms for them. That competition has kind of turned 9mm being the best into a self-fulfilling prophesy I guess.
Great article, but learn the difference between a mag and a clip.